- {SECTION_MENU}
Lavender Class Year 3 and 4
Welcome to Lavender Class!
Our class teacher is Mrs Gorczyca.
Our teaching assistants are Mrs Wright and Miss Edge.
On Friday afternoons, Lavender class are taught by Miss Walker and our PE Coach, Kian.
Should you wish to contact Mrs Gorczyca, please do so either via the school office or the Arbor parent app.
Notices
This half term we are collecting thin cardboard for our DT projects. Please send any in that you may have. Thank you
Our Class Timetable
Swimming takes place every Monday for Year 4 pupils.
Year 3 pupils will have PE on a Monday & Friday.
Year 4 pupils will have PE on a Friday.
| PE Kit | Swimming Kit |
| Plain white t-shirt | Towel |
| Black shorts, leggings or joggers | Swimming shorts or costume |
| Black jumper (no hoodies) | Swimming cap for long hair |
| Plain black trainers or pumps |
Homework
Reading books are to be in school every day and will be changed on a Monday.
Homework is given out every Friday to be returned the following Wednesday.
Homework will consist of weekly spellings, timetables accessed via TTRS and a weekly English task.
Reading at St George’s
Reading is a huge part of life at St George’s. We ask that all children read at least 4 times a week at home to ensure they become fluent, comprehensive readers. Children will receive a raffle ticket every time there are 10 signatures in their reading record. One ticket will be drawn from each class at the end of every half term. The winner will receive a reading hamper of age appropriate books.
Alongside our class library, we also have our Top 10 Reads. These are books which have been specially chosen to promote reading for pleasure, equality and a high level of vocabulary. Children are encouraged to read as many of these 10 books throughout the year and record which they have read in the reading record.
English
This half term in English we are sharing the text Against the Odds which is an illustrated non-fiction book that tells the true stories of 20 adventurers from different times and places who faced extreme challenges while pursuing exploration and discovery. Rather than focusing only on success, the book highlights how failure, setbacks, and unexpected events are often a central part of adventure—and life.
The book is structured as a collection of short profiles, each describing an individual’s journey. These adventurers travel across oceans, deserts, mountains, jungles, and even space, often encountering danger, hardship, or discrimination. Some achieve their goals, while others do not—but all demonstrate courage, resilience, and determination.
Through this text the pupils will be writing a biography and a report.
Maths
This half term in maths, pupils will be focusing on fractions, mass and capacity. We will continue to follow White Rose Maths for our maths lessons.
To support maths learning at home, please ensure you child is engaging with TTRS. Times Tables Rockstars is an online educational platform and app used to learn, practise, and improve multiplication (times tables) and related division skills through fun, game-based activities. Pupils can practise individually or enter into rock battles with their classmates and teachers.
Please speak to Mrs Gorczyca is you require your child's log in details.
Science
Forces and Magnets
This half term in science, we will be learning about forces and magnets.
Learning Challenges:
- What are contact forces?
- How do surfaces affect the motion of an object?
- How does friction affect moving objects?
- What is a non-contact force? How is this different to a contact force?
- How do magnets attract and repel?
- Which materials are magnetic?
National Curriculum Objectives:
- compare how things move on different surfaces
- notice that some forces need contact between 2 objects, but magnetic forces can act at a distance
- observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others
- compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of whether they are attracted to a magnet, and identify some magnetic materials
- describe magnets as having 2 poles
- predict whether 2 magnets will attract or repel each other, depending on which poles are facing
RE
Creation/Fall
This unit focuses on the stories of Creation and the Fall as two parts of the ‘Big Story’ of the Bible. Pupils familiarise themselves with the first Creation story from Genesis and key messages within it for many Christians about the world being good and how Christians are called to look after God’s world. They move on to think about the story of Adam and Eve and how the Fall fits into the ‘Big Story’ of the Bible.
Learning Challenges:
- Where does Creation belong in the 'Big Story' of the Bible?
- What kind of world do Christians believe in? What do we mean by good?
- How have Christians interpreted looking after the world?
- How do different Christians think about and look after the environment?
- What do Christians mean by 'The Fall?'
- What do many Christians learn from the stories of Creation and the Fall?
Geography
Longitude and Latitude
In Geography, this half term, the children should be taught to:
Locational knowledge
- identify the position and significance of latitude, longitude, Equator, Northern Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere, the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, Arctic and Antarctic Circle, the Prime/Greenwich Meridian and time zones (including day and night)
Geographical skills and fieldwork
- use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied
- use the eight points of a compass, four and six-figure grid references, symbols and key (including the use of Ordnance Survey maps) to build their knowledge of the United Kingdom and the wider world
- use fieldwork to observe, measure, record and present the human and physical features in the local area using a range of methods, including sketch maps, plans and graphs, and digital technologies.
- The achievements of the earliest civilizations – an overview of where and when the first civilizations appeared and a depth study of one of the following: Ancient Sumer; The Indus Valley; Ancient Egypt; The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China
DT
Mechanisms
This half term in DT, our focus is on mechanisms. Through this unit of work, pupils will explore different types of mechanisms and build two different toys using their knowledge.
Learning Challenges:
- How do the fulcrum, effort and load effect levers?
- What are the different types of linkages?
- Can I make a children's toy that uses linkages?
- Can I create a hinge?
- Can I create a hinged toy?
National Curriculum Objectives:
- use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups
- generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams
- select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing], accurately
- apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures
- understand and use mechanical systems in their products [for example, gears, pulleys, cams, levers and linkages]
Computing
Coding
This half term in computing, our focus is on coding. Through this unit of work, pupils will be learning how to use the coding program on Purple Mash to plan, design and create programs using sequencing, repeating structures, selection and variables.
Learning Challenges:
- How can I use timers in a program?
- What do 'if' statements do?
- Why are coordinates important in coding?
- Can I code, test and debug a program I design?
National Curriculum Objectives:
- Design, write and debug programs that accomplish specific goals, including controlling or simulating physical systems; solve problems by decomposing them into smaller parts
- Use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output
- Use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs
- Use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly
PHSCE
Relate
This half term in PHSCE, our focus is relate.
We follow the myHappyMind program which is a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing that helps children understand how their brain works and how to take care of themselves mentally and emotionally. This scheme of work is science-based, grounded in neuroscience and positive psychology, and supported by research showing positive impact on children’s resilience and behaviour. It has been designed to build lifelong habits that support confidence, emotional regulation, relationships, gratitude and goal-setting.
Music
Body and tuned percussion
This half term in music, our focus is on body and tuned percussion. Through this unit of work, pupils will be learning about the history of calypso music, why it is important and how to play percussion instruments.
Learning Challenges:
- Pitter patter raindrops
- Rainforest body percussion
- The rhythm of the forest floor
- The loopy rainforest
- Sounds of the rainforest
National Curriculum Objectives:
- play and perform in solo and ensemble contexts, using their voices and playing musical instruments with increasing accuracy, fluency, control and expression
- improvise and compose music for a range of purposes using the inter-related dimensions of music
- listen with attention to detail and recall sounds with increasing aural memory
- develop an understanding of the history of music
Spanish
The People Around Me
This half term in Spanish, our focus is on familes. Through this unit of work, pupils will learn how to identify and introduce family and pets and spell their names.
Learning Challenges:
- Meet My Family
- Have You Got Any Pets?
- The Alphabet
- What's Their Name?
- How Do You Spell...?
National Curriculum Objectives:
- Identify and introduce some of their relations
- Name some common pets
- Recognise some of the letters of the Spanish alphabet
Class Gallery
Lavender Class
Lavender Class Overview
Take a look at our class overview for our learning this year
Website links
| English | Maths | History & Geography |
|
SPaG Glossary - Year 3 SPaG Glossary - Year 4 Writing mat - Year 3 Writing mat - Year 4 |
3D Geography | |
| Science & Computing | RE | Art & Music |
| Manchester Diocese YouTube | Spoons | |
| Health & Wellbeing | ||
|
50 Things to do before you’re 11 and ¾ The Dot |